Anniversary Activities and updates
We are 60!
Chi Epsilon’s Anniversary Celebrations !
Honouring the Past, Engineering the Future
In addition, a cash incentive of Php 10,000 each was awarded to two University scholars and Php 8,000 each to the three College scholars. Three years ago, the tournament has helped fund the building of the UP College of Engineering Centennial Dorm with a generous Php 500,000.00 donation. October 2, 2014 also saw the Pledge of Commitment Ceremony for the Fraternity’s Legacy Project: the Epsilon Chi Health and Fitness Center at the Molave Residence Hall.
Since October 2, 1964- when 32 young visionaries from the UP College of Engineering came together, burning with idealism and nationalism- the Fraternity has reached for excellence and molded leaders, in pursuit of their vision to be builders of nations, initially called the Engineering Circle, the Epsilon Chi Fraternity was officially recognized in 1969. In 1973, the Fraternity expanded to the UP Los Baños campus, with the formation of fraternity chapter and a sister sorority. Foremost among the Fraternity’s programs and projects on the campus is to facilitate freshmen engineering students’ integration into the UP way of life, develop campus leaders, promote academic excellence, and socio-political-cultural advancement. Today, the Fraternity prices itself on having alumni who have excelled in their chosen fields of endeavor.
Fifty years is testament to the Epsilon Chi Fraternity’s commitment to the brotherhood, and its ability not only to honour the past, but also to harness and use that to overcome and rise above the many challenges of today- to shape and engineer the future. One of the Fraternity’s key projects in Epsilon Chi Fraternity’s Scholarship Program, which gives financial support to the poor but academically gifted students of the UP College of Engineering. To date, 15 of the Fraternity’s scholars have graduated (one as cum laude) and are now licensed Engineers. This year, as part of the celebration of its 50th founding year, the Fraternity organized the very successful Epsilon Chi Fraternity 50th Anniversary Invitational Golf Tournament at the Eagle Ridge Golf & Country club, Cavite. Close to 150 golfers and alumni from the different fraternities in UP played in this very prestigious event for the benefit of the Epsilon Chi Fraternity’s Scholarship Program. Last year’s golf tournament was instrumental in supporting the full scholarships of five deserving UP students. In addition, a cash incentive of Php 10,000 each was awarded to two University scholars and Php 8,000 each to the three College scholars. Three years ago, the tournament has helped fund the building of the UP College of Engineering Centennial Dorm with a generous Php 500,000.00 donation. October 2, 2014 also saw the Pledge of Commitment Ceremony for the Fraternity’s Legacy Project: the Epsilon Chi Health and Fitness Center at the Molave Residence Hall. This project also kicked off BalikDorm, the modernization program of the UP Diliman dorms. This sport facility will have concessionary spaces and will be rented out to generate the much-needed funds for the repair and maintenance of the different dorms in Diliman. This project will help the students, not only physically but also financially for many years to come. Targeted for completion by 2 October 2015, we hope that our legacy project will be a model to encourage other UP fraternities and the many UP alumni organizations from all over the world to start similar projects and donations.
This project also kicked off BalikDorm, the modernization program of the UP Diliman dorms. This sport facility will have concessionary spaces and will be rented out to generate the much-needed funds for the repair and maintenance of the different dorms in Diliman. This project will help the students, not only physically but also financially for many years to come. Targeted for completion by 2 October 2015, we hope that our legacy project will be a model to encourage other UP fraternities and the many UP alumni organizations from all over the world to start similar projects and donations.
OBRA Awards
The OBRA Awards
The Outstanding Brother Radian Achievement (OBRA) Awards was conceptualized and proposed by Brother Radian Alfredo “Alvits” S. Vitangcol in 2004 in preparation for the 40th Founding Anniversary of the UP Epsilon Chi Fraternity. It was approved by then Radian Governor David W. Lim, designating Brother Radian Marcelino “Mars” C. Mendoza as the initial Awards Committee Chair. It was first bestowed to deserving Radians during 40th Anniversary Ball of the fraternity held on October 4, 2004 at the
Makati Shagri-la Hotel.
The original awards were termed “Outstanding Brother Radian Awards”, or OBRA for short. Each award was sub-categorized pertaining to an excellent achievement in a certain field by a fraternity brother. For example, one award was the “Outstanding
Brother Radian Award (OBRA) – Outstanding Achievement Award for Academic and Professional Excellence.” However, considering that all the awards were for “achievements”, the awards for subsequent years evolved to “Outstanding Brother Radian Achievement (OBRA) Awards.”
Why OBRA? The acronym was coined by Brother Radian Alvits Vitangcol with the fraternity’s Creed in mind. OBRA is a Tagalog term for creation, short of a masterpiece (obra maestra). The Creed states, “I believe in a Goal, and My Goal is Creation..”.
Thus, a Radian’s ultimate goal of creation is his own “obra,” an exemplification of his achievement. The glass plaque itself was not a random, accidental design by a trophy manufacturer. It was purposely crafted by Brother Radian Alvits Vitangcol with the
engineering education as a backdrop. The front piece, a clear transparent rectangular glass, represents the first tool used by engineering students. A triangle is a drafting tool for drawing accurate parallel lines, vertical lines, and other angled lines, in conjunct with another right-angled triangle. For aesthetics, a scalene triangle was chosen for the plaque.
The back piece, a frosted translucent glass, signifies a scroll or a parchment paper. This type of paper is used for architectural drawings and engineering plates. Both pieces form the beginning and the end of engineering studies and the start of the professional
creations by the Radians. These two glass pieces stand and rest on two oblong glass bases – with the mirror on top and the solid black glass on the bottom. The solid black piece denotes a strong foundation while the mirror reflects the Radians “new self… described by the will to excel in all fields of human endeavor.”
The chairmanship of the OBRA Awards Committee, after 2004, was held by Brother Radian Alvits Vitangcol until it was turned over to Brother Radian Doie J. Dineros in 2024.
The OBRA Awards lives on towards the fraternity’s 60 years of outstanding legacy
UPAA 2023 Awardees
Congratulations to all 2023 upaa awardees !
PRESS RELEASE UPAA Alumni Awards Ceremony, 19 August 2023
The University of the Philippines Alumni Association (UPAA) Bestows Honors on the 2023 UPAA Alumni Awardees at Ang Bahay ng Alumni
On 19 August 2023, 6:00 PM, the UPAA will hold the Awarding Ceremonies of the 2023 UPAA Alumni Awardees at Ang Bahay ng Alumni, UP Diliman, Quezon City.
The UPAA Awardees are outstanding individuals recognized for their leadership, achievements, service, and contributions to create positive change in the country and in the world. This year’s awards for Most Distinguished Alumna/Alumnus are given to Maria Leonor Gerona-Robredo (AB’86) and Arsenio M. Balisacan (MS’82).
The UPAA gives the Lifetime Distinguished Achievement Awards to Lourdes J. Cruz, (BSChem’62), Nathaniel A. Von Einsiedel (BSArch’68), Gisela Padilla-Concepcion (BSChem’75 cl; MS’82; PhD’95), and Rene S. Santiago (BSCE’70 cl).
The UPAA grants the Distinguished Alumni Awards to individuals with outstanding achievements in their fields of endeavour. This year’s awardees are Roberto A. Alejandro in Art as Advocacy; Peter S. Nery in Championing Hiligaynon Literature and Regional Culture; Bryan Jayson T. Borja in Community Empowerment; Jose Edgardo G. Sunico in Corporate Social Responsibility; Raul B. Villanueva in Court Administration/Public Service; Regalado T. Jose, Jr. in Cultural Heritage Work and Advocacy; Filomena Magno-Cantoria in Education and Societal Development; Manuel Peter Paul C. Jorge II in Empowerment Through Health Education; Francisco G. Delfin, Jr. in Energy Geosciences; Manuel L. Logroño in Enterprise Development and Corporate Governance; Chan Huan Chyang in Entrepreneurship; Zaldy B. Patron in Foreign Service; Sylvia Estrada-Claudio in Gender Equality or Women Empowerment; El Cid R. Butuyan in Good Governance and Anti-Corruption; Lilia Catris-Guillermo in Good Governance and Public Service; Remedios Calma-Cruz in Human Resource Development and Empowerment; Giselle Lourdes Mangona-. Manalo in Innovation in Public Health Education; Alex B. Brillantes, Jr. in Innovative Public Administration Education; Floro R. Francisco in International Labor Relations; Alexis D.L. Reyes in Medicine (Developmental and Behavioral Pediatrics); Imelda O. Degay in Nutrition Education; Celia C. Carlos in Public Service; Raul C. Pagdanganan in Public Health Promotion; Maria Asuncion A. Silvestre in Public Health Promotion (Newborn Care); Gerry A. Camer in Science and Technology; Juan Carlos T. Gonzalez in Science and Technology; Milagrosa Martinez-Goss in Science and Technology (Phycology); Lulu Carandang-Bravo in Science and Technology (Vaccine Research); and Victor B. Ella in Soil & Water Resources Management.
The UP Epsilon Chi Fraternity Alumni, Inc. receives the UPAA Distinguished Service Award for an Alumni Chapter. Rico V. Domingo, Norberto P. Mendoza, and Bienvenido I. Somera, Jr. are the recipients of the UPAA Presidential Awards.
The UPAA Multigenerational Alumni Family Award is given to a family with alumni in consecutive generations. In 2023, the Ramirez family gets the recognition with four generations of UP alumni. Three-generational alumni families with the same award are the Baconguis, Castelo, Guzman, Magno, Malate, Pangalangan, Riego-Javier, Rodriguez-Martinez-Nelson, and Valencia families.
About the UPAA Alumni Awards:
The annual UPAA Alumni Awards is an independent award program that gives recognition to UP graduates with exceptional achievements in their fields, careers, or vocations. The works of these outstanding alumni bring substantial benefit to society and give distinction to the University. The UPAA recognizes the achievements and contributions of individuals and organizations whose efforts impact the community at the local, national, or international level.
FROM: UPAA Secretariat
Email: upalumniasso@gmail.com
Contact mobile number: 0917 837 2098; 7910-6390
ePSILON cHI SYDNEY, AUSTRALIA 2022
57 Years
In memoriam david lim
David Lim, Epsilon Chi, Batch 70C
Yesterday, our Fraternity The UP Epsilon Chi Fraternity lost one of its pillars. Brod David Lim joined the fraternity only 6 years from its founding. He was part of the many Filipino Chinese brods who joined during the 70s.
The brods would later joke that the “Chi” stood for “Chinese”. During this time, the existence of the Fraternity was continuously challenged. Dave would later be at the center of the first rumble of the fraternity.
After graduating with a Degree in Electrical Engineering, he would become one of the stalwarts of the Philippine Semiconductor Industry. He would be assigned to many countries as a top executive of different companies, and was part of Dynetics Semicon. Later in his career he would be setting up his own semicon company which he managed up until he passed away. He was one brod who would always be present in almost all frat activities. He would always be one of the first brods to help residents and alumni be that financially or just moral support.
Although he was a senior brod, he would always mingle with the younger brods. He was what we fratmen call a PANATIKO since he was a resident until his demise. Borrowing from another brod “ he had a goal, he had a way, and he was a man distinguished”.
Paalam Brod Dave. Hanggang sa muli nating pagkikita.
Emman Llanes
Message from the Chi epsilon alumni governor
Message SRG Joy Cruz: Good afternoon sisses! First of many firsts, I would like to thank the sisses who reached out to our residents who were stranded in the campus.
A special mention to Camille Dailo Encarnacion, for the initiative and swift action. I only have two words for you, sis, “Thank” and “You”. Thank you!!
To our residents, your good work do not go unnoticed. You were there in Taal, and still at it in this pandemic. Your spirit is unstoppable to do what is good and just.
You do every Chi Ep proud. To the general membership of the Chi Epsilon AA, we at the Board of Trustees are more than thankful for your overwhelming show of support to our AA.
With your contributions, we are in a better position now to be of service in this difficult time we are all facing. We have sisses in the medical field who are in the frontlines, braving the dangers as they go to work each day. We have family members who are in the same predicament.
We might have sisses who lost their livelihood. These are challenging times. We are all treading uncertain waters. Every second we are battling an invisible enemy. For those whose heads are still up, we are appealing for your unwavering support so that collectively we may be able to reduce the impact this pandemic is causing our members and communities.
Rest assured the Board of Trustees is finding ways to deliver.
Thank you and may our good Lord bless us all.
Joy Martha Cruz